Trinity Western University Provost W. Robert Wood, Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Myron A. Penner, Ph.D., as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS). Penner assumes his new role effective August 15, 2015.
“Myron is a valued faculty member and scholar,” said Wood. “His collegial style and leadership abilities will serve him well as Dean.”
An Associate Professor of Philosophy who has served at TWU for 10 years, Penner was encouraged to consider the position by outgoing Dean Bob Burkinshaw, Ph.D., and other colleagues. “Bob brought many strengths and longevity to his role as Dean and leaves big shoes to fill,” Penner said of Burkinshaw, who will continue at TWU as Professor of History.
In addition to his role as Dean, Penner is the Director of the Anabaptist-Mennonite Centre for Faith and Learning at TWU. The Centre, which launched last fall, is an initiative of the Mennonite Faith and Learning Society, a non-profit society that promotes Mennonite studies in higher education through the establishment of chairs and research centres at Canadian universities.
“In many ways, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is the heartbeat of Trinity Western as a Christian liberal arts and sciences university,” Penner said. “When we think about our mission to develop positive, goal-oriented university graduates, a large part of that happens through the liberal arts curriculum delivered through FHSS—not exclusively, but centrally.
“The core courses that FHSS provides form a huge part of our student experience,” he continued. “Our extremely skilled and dedicated faculty do this in a way that is excellent, and also in a way that is collaborative with other disciplines and sectors within the University. That really sets Trinity apart in the Christian liberal arts environment.”